Eye on CSI 2019

Photo credit: Vinnie Amessé

A MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF THE COLLEGE OF STATEN ISLAND • Fall 2019

Record–setting $7.5M Chazanoff Donation to Name School of Business ALUMNI P RO FILE

Opportunity to Ascend:

Picture Perfect:

CSI’s Strategic Plan in Action

Sos Agaian’s Work Strives to Enhance Images While Encouraging His Students to Design a Better World

Alfred Thompson ‘90

Adopt a Bench Campaign

So Glad We Fell in Love at CSI Jay and Lucille Chazanoff – Class 0f 1965

“Persist until You Suceed” P.B. Sukhadia – Class of 1985

Adopt a Bench Campaign for the College's greatest needs.

Picture your special place on campus and name a bench to honor a loved one, a mentor, a special occasion, or your business. You name it!

Your named bench will bear an engraved brass plaque and be beautifully situated on our 204-acre campus.

For information about Adopt a Bench opportunities, please contact: Jennifer Lynch Associate Director Annual Giving and Adopt a Bench Project Manager jennifer.lynch@csi.cuny.edu 718.982.2293

Volume 8, Number 1 Fall 2019

CSI Accepted to NCAA Division II (story on page 15).

COVER STORY

Record–setting $7.5M Chazanoff Donation

DEPARTMENTS

FEATURED ARTICLES

Around Campus Page 12

Record–setting $7.5M Chazanoff Donation to Name School of Business Page 3

Page 3

Alumni News Page 17 Sports Highlights Page 21 Foundation Notes Page 24 Rising Stars Page 28

EYE ON CSI is Online csitoday.com/publications Please let us know your thoughts at alumni@csi.cuny.edu regarding Eye on CSI.

ALUMNI PROFILE Alfred Thompson ’90: Looking Back Page 29

Student Success: Fulbright, Watson Winners Page 6 Opportunity to Ascend: CSI’s Strategic Plan in Action Page 8 FACULTY FOCUS Picture Perfect: Sos Agaian’s Work Strives to Enhance Images While Encouraging His Students to Design a Better World Page 10

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Fall 2019 edition of Eye on CSI. Our cover story announces a $7.5M cash gift from Class of ’65 alumni Lucille and Jay Chazanoff to eponymously name the School of Business. The gift is the largest individual donation ever made to CSI or any public, nonprofit within the Borough of Staten Island. This gift will provide the potential to dramatically transform the work of the School, including accreditation pursuant to the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) – an international organization that is the preeminent accrediting body for business schools in the United States. In addition, the income generated by the Fund will support a wide range of objectives, including the retention of our nationally recognized faculty.

I am also pleased to announce that the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Membership Committee has accepted CSI Athletics’ entry into Division II. This will herald a new era for our championship Dolphins, and provide the opportunity for the College to offer more financial assistance to our exceptional student-athletes.

This issue also proudly celebrates our new Strategic Plan, titled Opportunity to Ascend. This document charts the College’s course through 2022, focusing on six Strategic Priorities. They include: Student Success, Global Engagement, Borough Stewardship, Destination Campus, Scholarship-Driven Education, and Resource Management. The College of Staten Island has been garnering national and local recognition for the quality of its programs, its value, and its contributions to the Borough and City. Our Strategic Plan provides a roadmap for continued success, providing the Opportunity to Ascend to our students, our faculty, and members of our community.

In that list of Strategic Priorities, Student Success is Number 1. In this issue, you will meet two students who exemplify academic achievement and success at CSI: Peter Scasny, the recipient of a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) award to Italy for the 2018–2019 academic year and Fatu Amara, CSI’s latest Jeannette K. Watson Fellow.

You will also learn about the groundbreaking research in image enhancement that is being conducted by Dr. Sos Agaian, a Distinguished Professor of Computer Science at College of Staten Island and The Graduate Center, CUNY. This is but one example of the exemplary work being done by CSI faculty, which serves two of our Strategic Priorities: Destination Campus and Scholarship-Driven Education.

As the only public institution of higher education on Staten Island, we have so many things to celebrate. Moving into the future, CSI, and its students and faculty, will continue to grow, achieve, and serve our community and our world.

Best wishes,

William J. Fritz, PhD President

William J. Fritz, PhD President Cheryl Adolph Executive Director, Institutional Advancement and External Affairs Terry Mares Chief Editor and Writer George Davis IV Digital Media Manager Jennifer Lynch Associate Director of Annual Giving Michele Callahan Fellowship and Scholarship Advisor Office of Scholarship and Fellowship Opportunities Deserie Sammy-Guilarte CSI Foundation Development Specialist Janice Awerbuch Director of Design Services Anita Mrozinski Art Director Ann Rodberg Graphic Designer Jennifer Lynch Jessica Marano Terry Mares David Pizzuto Jaclyn Tacoronte Staff Writers Vinnie Amessé Bill Higgins Photographers Additional photos by CSI Sports Information CSI Alumni Association Board of Directors Executive Committee, 2019-2020 Crystal Deosaran ’04 President Krystian Gargasz ’06 Vice President Nicole Liebman ’15 Treasurer Jacqueline Armani ’06 Assistant Treasurer Michael Massa ’14 Secretary Created and produced by the Office of Design Services.

Eye on CSI is a publication of the College of Staten Island, provided to alumni and friends of the College of Staten Island and its predecessor institutions, Staten Island Community College and Richmond College.

It is the policy of The City University of New York and the constituent colleges and units of The University to recruit, employ, retain, promote, and provide benefits to employees and to admit and provide services for students without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, legally registered domestic partnership status, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, alienage, citizenship, military or veteran status, or status as a victim of domestic violence. Sexual harassment, a form of sex discrimination, is prohibited under the University’s Policy Against Sexual Harassment.

If you have any comments, suggestions, or information for “Keeping Tabs,” please contact the Alumni Relations Office at 718.982.2290, alumni@csi.cuny.edu, or 2800 Victory Boulevard, Building 1A, Room 110, Staten Island, NY 10314.

EYE ON CSI CHAZANOFF DONATION TO NAME SCHOOL OF BUSINESS PAGE 3

Record–setting $7.5M Chazanoff Donation to Name School of Business

The College of Staten Island has received a $7.5M cash gift from Class of ’65 alumni Lucille and Jay Chazanoff to benefit the School of Business. The gift is the largest individual donation ever made to a nonprofit within the Borough of Staten Island. With the potential to dramatically transform the work of the School, the Fund will be used to support the Lucille and Jay Chazanoff School of Business, including accreditation pursuant to

the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) – an international organization that is the preeminent accrediting body for business schools in the United States. There are 845 business institutions in 56 countries and territories that have earned AACSB Accreditation. However, fewer than five percent of the more than 16,000 schools worldwide granting business degrees have earned AACSB Accreditation.

The income generated by the Fund will support a wide range of objectives, including retaining faculty, many of whom have garnered national recognition as Fulbright Scholars, National Science Foundation grant recipients, and National Academy of Science expert panel members. CSI Business faculty hold positions on journal editorial boards, occupy leadership roles in professional organizations, and consult

The Chazanoffs with Dr. Fritz and Danny the Dolphin at the Adopt a Bench Dedication event

L U C I L L E a n d J AY

CHAZANOFF

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

federal, state, and local governmental agencies.

The College will also use this endowment to undertake a well-defined series of strategic program improvements that will significantly strengthen both CSI and the Lucille and Jay Chazanoff School’s national standing and improve student success.

College President William J. Fritz commented that, “providing levels of instruction and excellence that were once only imagined. In addition, it exemplifies the power of personal legacy through private philanthropy, which strengthens our College and, ultimately, our community by giving us an Opportunity to Ascend consistent with our Strategic Plan.

Lucille and Jay are part of the fabric of this Island, and we are deeply grateful for their support of the School of Business and the College of Staten Island.”

Founding Dean of the School of Business, Susan L. Holak, remarked that “we are exceedingly grateful for this generous, transformational gift that will provide expanded opportunities for experiential learning and student success; support faculty hiring, retention, and scholarship;

and raise our level of community engagement. The Chazanoff CUNY Fund demonstrates confidence in our School’s mission and programs, while affording us the flexibility and capacity to innovate at a faster pace. Lucille and Jay Chazanoff are exemplary alumni, exceptional members of our community, and generous philanthropists. We are immensely proud that our School will bear their name.”

The donors, Lucille and Jay Chazanoff, stated that “it is an honor to have the opportunity to support the School of Business, and the College of Staten Island.

We met at Staten Island Community College and the education we received there gave us the foundation to launch successful careers and lives. We are proud to pay it forward to future students with the hope of giving them greatly enhanced career opportunities so that they may follow in our footsteps.”

Lucille and Jay Chazanoff met while attending classes at Staten Island Community College, a predecessor of CSI. They are longtime benefactors of the College of Staten Island and the community

at large. Previously, they established the $100,000 Jay and Lucille Chazanoff ’65 Endowed Scholarship Fund that provides support for full-time Business majors. Their philanthropy within the community includes the establishment in 2004 of the family-run Carmine and Robert DeSantis Charitable Foundation, named after Lucille’s late brothers. The Foundation, whose motto is “one child at a time,” assists children with special needs on Staten Island, providing more than $1M in support to date. In addition, the Chazanoffs are the lead benefactors of the JCC of Staten Islandsponsored Lucille and Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp, a free camp for children affected by cancer and their siblings.

EYE ON CSI CHAZANOFF DONATION TO NAME SCHOOL OF BUSINESS PAGE 5

Article from CSI Chronicle ca. 1985

“[T]he Fund will greatly augment the effectiveness, impact, and reach of our School of Business...”

PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. FRITZ

Left: Jay Chazanoff with then President Edmond L. Volpe in 1986 Middle: Jay with fellow 1989 Starlight Ball honoree and children’s activist and advocate Linda K. Steinman Right: Lucille with Dr. and Rose Volpe receiving the 1994 President’s Medal at the Volpe residence Bottom Left: The Chazanoffs enjoying festivities with faculty and administration at The Starlight Ball, the precursor to the Celestial Ball, circa 1980 [L-R seated] Former Dean Grace Petrone and Jay and Lucille Chazanoff [L-R standing] Frank Torre, Cornell Frank, Maryann Torre, Grace and Allan DiBiase, and Jim and Judy Donlan

STUDENT SUCCESS

CSI STUDENTS CONTINUE TO EXCEL

Fatu Amara ’20 One of the Strategic Priorities of Jeannette K. Watson Fellow the College of Staten Island’s Strategic Plan, Opportunity to Ascend, Fatu Amara, a sophomore in The Verrazano School is Student Success.

According to the Strategic Plan, “The College of Staten Island is committed to fostering success for students at all levels, as well as ensuring the strongest possible experience for students, including timely progress toward their degrees.

Strong student engagement, both inside and outside the classroom, as well as helping students to develop a “growth mindset,” are essential ingredients in achieving these objectives. The College is committed to embracing the success of all students and eliminating achievement gaps, wherever they exist, to improve educational equity and inclusion.”

Eye on CSI is pleased to share two of the many success stories of current students.

Honors Program and the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) at CSI, has been awarded a 2018 Jeannette K. Watson Fellowship. The program offers students three summer internships, personalized mentoring, professional development, and networking opportunities.

Commenting on having received this honor, Amara said, “Becoming a Watson Fellow is such an honor and a life-changing experience.

The Watson Fellowship helps its fellows reach their fullest potential personally, professionally, and culturally, and I am really grateful for having such opportunity.”

Inspired by research that she conducted under the guidance of faculty, she is a Biochemistry major who is considering career paths involving scientific research, medicine, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), and education and global advocacy. Amara has great compassion for those who do not have adequate access to basic resources, and eventually intends to engage in initiatives that address this issue globally.

Amara is a dedicated student who serves as Secretary for the Psychology Club, and is an active member of the Pre-Medical/Pre-

Physician Assistant Club at CSI. She has additionally enhanced her background experience by completing an internship assisting the Snug Harbor Cultural Center with its public education programs via the CUNY Cultural Corps, as well as a volunteer internship program at Staten Island University Hospital.

Amara is currently completing her third and final Watson internship within the Public Health and Early Childhood Development Program at the AVSI Foundation in Rwanda, a nonprofit organization that conducts humanitarian aid projects throughout the world.

When asked how her CSI education contributed to her selection as a Watson Fellow, Amara commented, “CSI has helped broaden my knowledge through academic classes, research, volunteering opportunities, cultural events, and internships. In addition, CSI has connected me with mentors and advisors who are always there to help me achieve my goals. All the knowledge, experience, exposure, and support that I have received from CSI has helped me to become a strong candidate for the Watson Fellowship.”

Looking to the future after she receives her bachelor’s degree, Amara stated, “Currently, my post-graduate aspiration is to continue exploring the science field at an advanced academic level such as graduate school.

However, I am very excited to see how the Watson internship experiences will influence my future career plans.”

EYE ON CSI STUDENT SUCCESS PAGE 7

Peter Scasny Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Peter Scasny, a College of Staten Island graduate student in History, has received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) award to Italy for the 2018–2019 academic year, a highly competitive and coveted academic prize.

For Scasny, the award will continue a long interest and fascination with Italy born not only of family heritage – his mother’s roots tie him to the country – but also of lifealtering study abroad experiences in Florence as an undergrad.

During his freshman year at Curtis High School, an accident left Scasny physically disabled. However, thanks to the New York City Board of Education’s Home Instruction Schools program—which sends professional teachers to the homes or other locations of students with disabilities—he was able to continue his studies.

Since 1946, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program has facilitated the international exchange of young scholars and He then returned to Curtis for his senior professionals in order to promote mutual year, and graduated on time. But his life was cooperation and understanding. The State not back to normal.

Department program provides grants for individually designed study/research projects, “After I graduated, I was not sure what I was as well as English Teaching Assistant going to do and I was, frankly, depressed,” positions. During their grant period, Scasny recalled. “But I knew I couldn’t just Fulbrighters work, live, and share daily sit at home.” experiences with the host country’s people, Scasny decided to enroll at CSI, yet his as well as learn from them. initial experience of the College was not Scasny volunteered to serve the Italian positive. He was registered for 12 credits, yet community of persons with disabilities his ability to function was limited, and during his grant period via Federazione physical therapy required most of his energy.

Italiana per il Superamento dell’Handicap But he then learned of the College’s Center (Italian Federation for Overcoming for Student Accessibility, and Teddi Handicap) in addition to providing Beekman—an academic advisor in that assistance to local English teachers. office—provided him with the support he Scasny’s Fulbright award is also testament needed, and re-enrolled him, part-time, the to his extensive work in Italian language following semester. This is just one example and literature.

of the many ways in which the College promotes student achievement.

Once Scasny was in classes, his academic career took off, and he eventually majored in History, and through the encouragement of Prof. Gerry Milligan, he eventually studied for a semester in Florence, Italy.

Scasny graduated in June 2016 and enrolled in CSI’s MA program in History. He also works as a tutor in the College’s Center for Academic Student Assistance, and as a teaching assistant in the Department of History. He has also presented at academic conferences at CSI, NYU, and the NYPL. He plans to pursue a PhD in history and teach at the college level.

STRATEGIC PLAN

OPPORTUNITY TO ASCEND: CSI’S STRATEGIC PLAN IN ACTION IN FALL 2017, the College of Staten Island introduced its latest Strategic Plan, Opportunity to Ascend, providing a dynamic roadmap to guide the College’s future through the year 2022. Since that time, the Plan’s six Strategic Priorities (Student Success, Global Engagement, Borough Stewardship, Destination Campus, Scholarship-Driven Education, and Resource Management) are already affecting positive change for our students, faculty, and staff, as well as the Staten Island community.

Student Success The combined efforts of faculty and staff work to provide our students with the resources and guidance that they need to not only earn their degrees, but excel in the workforce once they graduate. Although there have been many such examples of two exemplary students at CSI, there are two student success stories spotlighted on page 6.

Global Engagement This Strategic Priority is supported by the College’s Center for Global Engagement.

The overarching thrust of the Center and its activities is to be the driving force behind infusing the campus with ideas and activities that support comprehensive internationalization.

The broad goals set forth below are designed to enhance comprehensive internationalization on the campus: - Offer unique programming for students, faculty, staff, and the local community that serves the diverse needs of the broad spectrum of constituencies interested in international education, ideas, themes, and activities.

- Expand the international outreach of the College, including new opportunities for joint research and scholarship through cooperative partnerships and programming at home and abroad.

- Infuse the curriculum with global learning so that all students are presented with opportunities that promote globalmindedness, cultural diversity, and international understanding.

Opportunity to Ascend STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

- Position CSI as a premier destination for international students and scholars though rigorous academic offerings, innovative programming, and welcoming policies.

and high-tech education,” according to Jasmine Cardona, Executive Director of Economic Development, Continuing Studies, and Government Relations.

- Encourage the participation in international educational opportunities and intercultural programming woven throughout the curriculum.

Cardona added that “the project was in alignment with the Borough President James Oddo’s vision to create ‘an innovation cluster or innovation district’ to foster creativity and reinvigorate the North Shore’s economy.”

Borough Stewardship As one of the largest employers on the Island, the College has had a major impact on the Staten Island economy for many years. A relatively new innovation, the CSI Tech Incubator, is another driving force in the Borough’s economy.

The Incubator is assisting budding entrepreneurs with the creation of technology-based businesses.

Initial plans for the Incubator began in November 2015 as a result of $500,000 in capital funding from New York City’s “Create New Technology Incubators Initiative” with the goal of “establishing the St. George, Staten Island community as the Borough’s epicenter for innovation, technology, creativity, economic development,

So far, the start-ups involved with the Incubator have partnered with CSI students for internships and they are spearheading new hires. The facility’s growth will, most likely, necessitate a new, larger location.

Destination Campus In an effort to make our beautiful 204-acre campus as welcoming, and functional, as possible, a number of projects have been completed, are ongoing, or are in the works.

The College has completed new entry plazas to four academic buildings. In Building 2M, a portion of the second floor has been renovated, creating nine new stateof-the-art classrooms, a computer lab, and adjunct faculty space. That building also received a stunning new atrium, thanks to a

EYE ON CSI CSI’S STRATEGIC PLAN IN ACTION PAGE 9

grant from Richmond County Savings Foundation. It’s so impressive that it won an award for Excellence in Exterior Design from the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce.

In addition, the pool in the Sports and Recreation Center has been renovated, replacing the dehumidification system and installing new LED light bulbs directly above the pool with side wall sconce lighting,

main catalysts for The New York Times feature, “How CUNY Became Poetry U.”

campaign was successful in generating more than $550K in revenue.

Our programs also continue to achieve outstanding results. For example, students in CSI’s Nursing program have a close to 100% on-time program completion and close to 100% pass rates on the NCLEX national licensing exam for our Associate’s graduates, resulting in their becoming

The College also made efforts to engage the campus community through an all-day retreat in spring 2018, sponsored by the Institutional Planning Committee and the College Council Budget Committee, which focused on two goals: provide an opportunity for faculty, staff, and students

Opportunity to Ascend may still be relatively new, but it is already getting results, ensuring better lives for not only members of our College community, but for residents of our Borough and beyond.

and the Nursing SIM lab has received a state-of-the-art upgrade.

Current renovations include the Media Culture Screening Room, the Willowbrook Mile memorial, and the Makerspace Lab. Looking to the future, the College has begun the design process for four of our athletic fields: baseball, softball, soccer, and track, including the eventual installation of turf and drainage in the inner track field.

Scholarship Driven Education Our faculty members are continuing to prove their world-class caliber. In 2017, CSI English Professor Tyehimba Jess won a Pulitzer Prize for his poetry anthology, Olio.

The next year, English Professor Patricia Smith was named a 2018 Pulitzer Prize finalist for her latest collection of poetry, Incendiary Art: Poems. This was just the latest in a series of other prominent awards she received including the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for poetry, and the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award. Both Smith and Jess, along with their colleague, Guggenheim winner Cate Marvin, were the

Registered Professional Nurses, and most students continuing to directly complete CSI’s BS degree. In addition, nearly 100% of those BS graduates gain employment in the field within a few months of graduation.

Also, about 80% of our Nursing graduates are employed on Staten Island, contributing to quality nursing care for Staten Islanders and beyond in our hospitals, assisted living facilities, clinics, and other areas of healthcare delivery.

Resource Management In these difficult financial times where support from the State and CUNY has consistently declined, the College continues its diligent efforts to manage the money that it has to the benefit of our students, our faculty, and our staff, and find workable solutions to our funding dilemma.

One such method, through the creative efforts of our Enrollment Management team and the generous support of the CSI Foundation Board through a $100K grant, was a digital marketing campaign with the goal of recruiting and enrolling targeted student populations for Fall 2018. Through an overall investment of $162K, the

to learn about our current fiscal outlook and budget, followed by a collaborative session to discuss how we can move ahead with our Strategic Plan while taking our current resources into consideration.

Opportunity to Ascend may still be relatively new, but it is already getting results, ensuring better lives for not only members of our College community, but for residents of our Borough and beyond.

FACULTY FOCUS: Dr. Sos Agaian, Distinguished Professor of Computer Science

PICTURE PERFECT: ENHANCING PICTURES AND ENCOURAGING STUDENTS Island, his research interests have varied from applications in defense, security, and medicine to the fashion industry and art.

Journal). He has also provided guidance and support to his students over the years to encourage them to follow in his innovative footsteps.

CSI Distinguished Professor of Computer Science SOS AGAIAN has given the world myriad solutions to a number of real-world problems over his long career. The primary goal of his research is to enable computers to see, think, learn, and interpret as humans do. His current passion lies in exploring the applications of new bio-inspired imaging and deep learning Artificial Intelligence tools.

Agaian has authored more than 650 papers and ten books, and holds 48 patents/ disclosures. He is a Fellow of the SPIE (International Society for Optics and Photonics), IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), IS&T (Society for Imaging Science and Technology), and AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science).

He has taken his work from theory to commercialization, and the technologies that he invented have been adopted by multiple institutions and used in industry. He is a recipient of the Innovator of the Year Award (2014), and the Tech Flash Titans-Top Researcher-Award (San Antonio Business

Agaian is internationally known particularly for his pioneering work in image enhancement and image quality measurement. In discussing his approach to his work, Agaian commented, “Say that you recognize a face, but the quality of the image is not good. The computer has to enhance the image, measure the quality, and standardize it. That quality measurement is key.” In essence, his codes attempt to educate the computer to pick out the best image and find ways of enhancing the image. He added, “My goal is to enhance, make the invisible visible, and automatically measure the quality of these images. I’m looking to make a system, but these tools may not always work. But then, you are trying to use these tools to solve a problem.”

Over the course of this process, he discovers what works, what doesn’t, and what needs to be tweaked.

Pioneering Work to Improve Many Facets of Our Lives Agaian has been a member of the CSI faculty since 2017. After he came to Staten

Original

His medical applications work with images of cancer, where malignant areas appear more vivid in the enhanced image than in the original. In the cancer scenario, he removes noise from the picture and creates a cleaner, sharper image so that medical professionals can detect cancerous areas that they might have missed in the original image.

In his work with building images, he has improved the quality of these pictures for security applications, particularly nighttime images. His work with thermal imaging provides users with the ability to see where a structure needs insulation. He has also created a military application to thread two separate pictures of a landscape together to provide one, seamless image.

In fashion and interior design, he has created applications that allow designers and customers to reimagine clothing or room interiors by manipulating variables such as color, style of clothing, or furnishings in a room. He also designed a process to select a paint color based on what is already on the wall, in an effort to make a trip to the paint store for the same color paint easier.

NASA

UTSA*

Various examples of image Enhancement. *The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA)

EYE ON CSI FACULTY FOCUS PAGE 11

One of Dr. Agaian’s applications uses the measure of color to predict the freshness of food.

Two of his most interesting applications provide information on the freshness and weight of food. In the former, the application uses the measure of color to predict the quality of freshness of food. In the latter, his 3D application allows one to measure the weight of fruits and vegetables with a 94% accuracy rate using only pictures. “From two-dimensional images, you are generating 3D, and then you are calculating the volume,” he noted. With a general average weight plugged into the volume, the weight can be determined.

Agaian has also provided solutions that enhance airport screening images, combining MRI images to improve them.

And he recently received recognition for a method to improve underwater images, based on a fishing application that he designed, which assisted in the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.

Preparing the Next Generation of Innovators Although Agaian takes pride in his many achievements, his main focus is on his students, who range from high school to the Doctoral level.

He assigns his students the task of finding an everyday problem to solve, and they have published journal papers and initiated start-

“My goal is to give the computational devices the ability to see, learn, understand, plan, and act on the real world just as humans do.”

DR. SOS AGAIAN

ups with his encouragement. Their ideas “are all coming from real life,” Agaian said.

In explaining the relationship that he has with the people he teaches, Agaian commented that “students can do better work than I can do. I can see problems better than they can. They want to solve problems, and they can work hard and do many things better. Sometimes students are describing something, but they don’t see how good the work that they are doing is…

[He has the experience and knowledge to guide them.]…They don’t have the knowledge, but they have the desire to solve the problem, and they can work hard. And they can generate something you’ve never thought about. That’s the importance of this combination.

“Then, always, I tell them, ‘You are stronger than me. Remember, you are young. You can do better than I can.”

Agaian concluded by mentioning his favorite John Steinbeck quote, “Ideas are like rabbits!

You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.”

Illustrative examples of color standardization. These biopsy images were taken from several sources using different capturing devices with evident staining variations.

Original Image

Standardized Image

AROUND CAMPUS

CSI Receives $1.35 Million for Dolphin MakerSpace City Councilmember Steven Matteo, in collaboration with Borough President James Oddo and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, provided grant funding at the level of $1.35 million for the new Dolphin MakerSpace. The grant will support a hightech facility with state-of-the-art equipment that will allow entrepreneurs, artists, and others to bring their ideas to life.

National Grid Funds CSI Tech Incubator with Largest-ever Grant in NYC

RCSF Atrium Dedicated in RibbonCutting Ceremony A ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially name the new Richmond County Savings Foundation (RCSF) Atrium in Building 2M took place in June 2018. The Atrium represents a portion of the first phase of the Building 2M Renovation Initiative for which RCSF has generously provided $250,000 in funding. This phase also includes the construction of classrooms and an office for the Lucille and Jay Chazanoff School of Business on the second floor.

CSI Designated a Federal Depository Library

John Bruckner, President, National Grid New York, at CSI JumpStart Entrepreneurial Program

The CSI Tech Incubator received almost $250,000 from National Grid’s economic development program to expand its hub to create the CSI JumpStart Entrepreneurial Program. The grant is the largest awarded to date by National Grid in the New York Metro area. National Grid’s Economic Development Program offers matching grants for eligible projects that help retain and create quality jobs, promote sustainable development, and incorporate energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.

{L-R] Gary Reichard, Cheryl Adolph, Kim Seggio, Cesar Claro, William J. Fritz, Michael Arvanites, and CSI Chief of Staff/Deputy to the President Hope Berte. Photo: Steve White

{L-R] Former Rep. Dan Donovan, Amy F. Stempler, and William J. Fritz at the event announcing that the CSI Library is now a Federal Depository Library

With the support of former Congressman Dan Donovan, the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) designated the College of Staten Island as a Federal Depository Library (FDL). The GPO distributes physical and digital government documents to FDLs nationwide for use by the public. FDLs provide free access to their federal collections, as well as staff, to help the public research information.

EYE ON CSI AROUND CAMPUS PAGE 13

Patricia Smith Receives Numerous Honors

Four Campus Buildings Receive Major Plaza Renovations Entrance plazas for four academic buildings (1N, 2N, 3S, and 5S) have been completed, improving access and aesthetics while featuring welcoming designs and landscaping.

Multiple National Publications Rank CSI among Top Colleges in the U.S. CSI continues to receive national recognition. Forbes magazine named the College a Forbes Best Value College for 2019, MONEY magazine placed the College of Staten Island on its Best Colleges in America, Ranked by Value list for 2019; U.S. News & World Report named CSI Master’s programs in Nursing and Social Work to its 2020 Best Graduate Schools Rankings; Viqtory Media designated CSI a 2019-2020 Military Spouse Friendly School®; and security company ASecureLife named the College as One of the “100 Most Secure College Campuses in America.”

English Professor Patricia Smith, a 2018 Pulitzer Prize finalist for her latest collection of poetry, entitled Incendiary Art: Poems, has received three other prestigious honors for the same work: an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry, the $100,000 Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize.

Amplifying Student Success Partnership Announces Expansion The Staten Island Field Support Center, District 31 offices, and the College of Staten Island announced the expansion of the Amplifying College Success partnership. The partnership between Staten Island high school English teachers and education and writing professors from the College of Staten Island focuses on creating a better understanding and alignment of high school and college freshman writing expectations.

This year, the partnership expanded its work to include more opportunities for families and school communities to interact with partners from Staten Island-based institutions of higher education in their home schools. This work contributes to 30,000 Degrees, a joint initiative of the College of Staten Island, Staten Island public school teachers share observations after St. John’s University, and visiting introductory college courses to build bridges between Wagner College. high school and college instruction in writing.

Students Win IBM-Watson Competition

Joining 30 other colleges and universities across the United States, the College of Staten Island has been selected as an inaugural member of the Higher Education Anchor Mission Initiative, a national collaboration designed to develop and share new strategies for deploying higher education’s intellectual and place-based resources to enhance the economic and social well-being of the communities they serve. Higher education institutions like CSI are anchor institutions: local economic engines and mission-driven organizations inextricably linked to the long-term wellbeing of their local communities, and uniquely positioned and incentivized to play a more active role in supporting the local economy. By intentionally implementing an anchor framework, the entire College will be able to better serve its public Mission. The Higher Education Anchor Mission Initiative will provide a national platform to accelerate this important work.

CSI Is Allocated $3.2M in City Funding Through the Office of Government Relations, the College was allocated funding by the New York City Council for various capital projects, breast cancer research, and the CSI Tech Incubator.

Photo credit: CUNY

CSI Joins CUMU’s Higher Education Anchor Mission Initiative L-R: Egor Semeniak, Vincent Vitiello, Anthony Astarita, and Mark Vitebsky

Four CSI students won the CUNY IBMWatson Competition with their design for Guardian, a computer program to help veterans who at risk of suicidal behavior.The four students are Mathematics/Computer Science joint majors Anthony Astarita and Vincent Vitiello, and Computer Science majors Egor Semeniak and Mark Vitebsky.

Semeniak, Astarita, and Vitiello are a part

of the Macaulay Honors College at CSI and all four are heavily involved in CSI’s Computer Science Club. Astarita explains that “Guardian recognizes and looks for patterns. It’s an AI that trains itself with old social media posts, from those who have not died by suicide and those who have, and tries to predict and assist others who might be at-risk for suicide. At present, Astarita notes that “we’re working on partnerships. We’re talking with the Department of Veteran Services and other NYC entities to try to make Guardian the best it can be. We’re also applying for grants to expand and maintain the program. And we’re also designing and building the Website that Guardian will be hosted on.” According to the IBM Website, the CUNY-IBM Watson Competition “challenges CUNY’s… students to identify ways to use the cognitive computing power of IBM Watson to improve either student experiences in higher education or how New York City organizes and delivers public services.”

Pool Undergoes Renovation The College completed renovation of its pool, creating a much-improved environment for its teams and swim clubs. The project included a new dehumidification system that will improve air quality and more efficiently heat and cool the air temperature, installation of new LED light bulbs directly above the pool, and side wall sconce lighting.

EYE EYE ON ON CSI CSI AROUND ALUMNI CAMPUS NEWS PAGE 15

Move-In Day 2019 Welcomes More than 300 Incoming Freshmen Last August, more than 300 new freshmen moved into the Dolphin Cove Residence Halls at the College of Staten Island.

Nearly 200 campus community volunteers – including students, student-athletes, faculty, and staff – assisted the new students as they moved their belongings to their new dorms. Students from across the New York City boroughs and throughout the world now call Dolphin Cove their new home as they prepare to begin their college journeys. Students were also greeted by CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez and College of Staten Island President William J. Fritz, who presided over the annual and highly anticipated waffle brunch. Chancellor Matos Rodríguez, CUNY Trustee Michael Arvanites, and select CSI staff toured the campus including the newly announced Lucille and Jay Chazanoff School of Business at the College of Staten Island. Other activities on Move-in Day included town hall events, a DJ, and an evening barbecue.

CSI President William J. Fritz, CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, and Danny the Dolphin

CSI Receives $350K from SI PPS The College of Staten Island received a $350,000 grant from the Staten Island Performing Provider System (SI PPS). To date, the College has received approximately $700k in funds from the organization. These funds are used to provide scholarships for students pursuing degrees in mental health, social work, and healthcare management. In addition, the award will fund workforce development training initiatives for the positions of Community Healthcare Worker (CHW), and Care Manager.

Con Edison Trading Room Dedicated in Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony The School of Business celebrated the formal ribbon-cutting of the Con Edison Trading Room in April 2018. During this multi-year project, a computer laboratory was transformed into a special experiential learning venue with state-of-the-art visual displays, financial data feeds, and dual-screen work stations, all visible through a newly renovated glass entrance wall. This project, supporting experiential learning opportunities, represents a strong public-private partnership.

Front Row, L-R, Scholarship Recipients Elissa Tavarez, Maribel Espinosa, Melissa Ramos. Back Row, L-R, Scholarship Recipient Vincent Andruzzi with William Myhre and Joseph Conte from SIPPS and William J. Fritz and Ken Iwama from CSI

J. Michael Parrish Named Provost and Senior VP for Academic Affairs Dr. J. Michael Parrish has been named Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at The City University of New York’s College of Staten Island.

Dr. Parrish has a career in higher education spanning 40 years. He began his academic career as a teaching assistant at the University of California Santa Cruz.

During his graduate study at the University of Chicago, he served as a Research Assistant in the Department of Anatomy.

Subsequently, he held research appointments at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago and the University of Colorado Museum. Next, he served on the faculty of the Department of Biological Sciences at Northern Illinois University, where he rose to Chair and received the appointment of Presidential Research Professor for outstanding scholarship.

From 2006 to 2018, Dr. Parrish held two academic leadership positions at San Jose State University, first as Dean of the College of Science and Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, and then Special Advisor to the Provost.

During this time, he spearheaded a number of initiatives involving strategic planning, facilities planning and improvement, student success, faculty recruitment and workload, faculty and student research, program development, accreditation and assessment, and development.

Dr. Parrish holds a PhD in Anatomy from the University of Chicago, and BAs in Chemistry and Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

During his career, he has published myriad journal articles and book chapters on a wide range of paleontological issues.

In Memoriam It is with sorrow that we announce the passing of the following members of the faculty and staff of the College of Staten Island and its predecessor institutions, Staten Island Community College and Richmond College: Dr. Boris Arshava, Research Associate in the Chemistry Department Richard “Richie” Burzumato, retiree of Operational Services Dr. Robert E. Chiles, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy John Greeley, retired Assistant to HEO in the Office of Reprographics David Keberle, Professor, Performing and Creative Arts Dr. Ercument Ozizmir, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics Grace Petrone, Dean of Students and Emerita Professor of Accounting Dr. Phyllis Roberts, Emerita Professor in the History Department Liz Seder, formerly of Richmond College and CSI, working in curriculum, affirmative action, and communications Katina White, Professor, World Languages and Literatures

Geller Donates Memoir to CSI Library’s Willowbrook Archive

Henry Geller (seated, center) with members of the CSI and HeartShare communities, and members of the Willowbrook Mile Project

The Willowbrook Archives at the College of Staten Island’s Library received a welcome and enlightening addition last summer when former Willowbrook State School resident Henry Geller donated his self-published book, Henry Geller: A Memoir to the collection.

The book examines his time at the notorious warehouse for the

developmentally disabled, and his fascinating life after he left. Geller was born in 1946 and was placed in Willowbrook in 1950, remaining there until 1967. After residing in group homes for many years, in 2010, he eventually moved to the Subbiondo I Residence of HeartShare, a nonprofit organization, which is dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, in Bayside, Queens. Geller eventually worked part-time job at a Bronx newsstand and then took on a full-time job, serving as a messenger and clerk for the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission until he retired in 1999. In attendance at the event were Geller, and members of the CSI and HeartShare communities, as well as members of the WIllowbrook Mile Committee, which is developing an educational and fitness walking trail through the three distinct campuses that were created from the original 383 pastoral acres that were once the Willowbrook State School.

EYE ON CSI ALUMNI NEWS PAGE 17

ALUMNI NEWS

70th Commencement Spotlights Graduates’ Achievements and Looks ahead to the Future the major hurdle that she had to overcome on her academic path, the language barrier. However, she noted that the support and patience of her professors gave her the strength that she needed to carry on and not only earn her degree, but become Valedictorian.

The College of Staten Island’s 70th Commencement celebrated the academic achievements of this year’s 3,108 graduates on May 30 on the Great Lawn.

The ceremony’s Presiding Officer, CSI Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. J. Michael Parrish, provided opening remarks, and introduced CSI President Dr. William J. Fritz. In his address, Dr. Fritz noted that both Staten Island and the College of Staten Island are on the rise. After briefly listing some of the most recent accolades that CSI has received, including U.S. News & World Report naming CSI Master’s programs in Nursing and Social Work to its 2019 Best Graduate Schools rankings, he underscored why the College is important to so many people.

“We are an access institution that provides an opportunity for people from all walks of life to improve their situation. From certifications through our Workforce Development

programs to degrees in our Master’s or Doctoral programs, we offer people many opportunities and that is an exceptional achievement. We help students achieve their dreams!”

Near the end of his remarks, the President looked to the future.

“Today we celebrate that everyone graduating has developed their talents at this College and will use those talents to ascend and help others improve their lives.

Whether you are receiving an Associate’s, Baccalaureate, Master’s, or Doctorate today, you all have the skills to make a difference in your own lives and the lives of others.” He concluded by urging the new graduates to spread the word about the exceptional educational opportunities that CSI provides.

This year’s recipient of the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters was former Staten Island Advance reporter Jane Kurtin, who played a vital role in shining a light on the

After reporting that she has already landed a job with PJM Interconnection, a company that operates the largest electrical grid in North America, she offered the graduates this advice, “Don’t let yourself be discouraged by anything! Go and apply to the best jobs, your dream jobs. horrific conditions that were then in effect at the Willowbrook We are students with so much potential, that have worked so State School, which at its peak hard to get ourselves to this housed more than 6,000 point and we deserve the best developmentally disabled opportunities out there. At the residents in a facility designed to end of the day, it is our accommodate 4,000 patients. determination that will drive us Her brave efforts on behalf of to reach beyond our expectations.” the patients at the school constituted a powerful victory CUNY Trustee the Honorable for social justice and for the Michael Arvanites also provided rights of the thousands of remarks during this year’s developmentally challenged Commencement. residents of the school, ultimately culminating in a subsequent class action lawsuit by relatives of school residents that was instrumental in the passage of the 1980 Civil Rights of Institutional Persons Act and other legislation.

Those in attendance also heard from this year’s Valedictorian, Anastasia Tataru, who graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and a minor in Mathematics.

Anastasia, who emigrated to the U.S. from Moldova, discussed

2019 Valedictorian Anastasia Tataru

“Savor the Flavors” Ten Years of Great Food, Supporting Scholarships

For the tenth straight year, “Savor the Flavors,” the CSI Alumni Association’s signature event, provided a broad and exciting showcase of the Island’s finest cuisine, while raising much-needed funds for student scholarships.

More than 300 people were on hand to enjoy the culinary delights on April 7.

Cheryl Adolph, Executive Director of Institutional Advancement and External Affairs, underscored the importance of the event for CSI students. “This wonderful event gives the community a chance to come together and sample some amazing food and drink. Most importantly, over the past nine years, “Savor the Flavors” has raised enough funds to grant 45 Alumni Legacy Scholarships to CSI students, making a significant impact in their academic lives.”

This year, there were some changes to the event. First of all, this is the first year that “Savor” has partnered with the Staten Island Advance’s Cookbook Taste-off, where 15 finalists presented their recipes/dishes and

were judged separately. Also, because of this collaboration and an expected increase in attendance, the venue for the event was moved to the Sports and Recreation Center.

The event, which was chaired, once again,

by James McBratney ’05, received support from student volunteers from The Verrazzano School Honors Program.

As in year’s past, judges from the Food Network’s Chopped, Rob Burmeister and Sean Quinn, as well as Jimmy Max's James McBratney, picked the best dishes. The winners were:

Restaurants and businesses, which graciously donated food and beverages for the event, included: Beans and Leaves, Board and Brush, Cake Chef/Cookie Jar/Piece-A- Cake, Canlon’s Restaurant, Chef Mike’s Rodizio Grill, Corner House BBQ, Dave & Busters, Don Chucho Restaurant, Flagship Brewery, Ho’Brah Taco Joint, Il Pallino, Jimmy Max, J’s on the Bay, Leo’s Deli, Lobster House Joes, Mark’s Bake Shoppe, Melissa’s Sweets & Treats, Miller’s Ale House, Mother Moose, On Your Mark Chocolatier, Oriental Plaza, Panini Grill, Park Café, Port Richmond High School Culinary Arts Program, Project Brunch, Real Madrid Restaurant, Sofia’s Taqueria, Staten Island Winery, Stone House, The Burrito Shoppe, The Chef’s Table, The Kettle Black, and Violette’s Cellar.

BEST DISH: Port Richmond High School Culinary Arts Program BEST DESSERT: Mark’s Bake Shoppe - Carrot Cake MOST UNIQUE: J’s on the Bay - Jellyring Shake BEST DÉCOR: Ho’Brah Taco Joint The attendees also had a chance to voice their opinions with the People’s Choice award, which went to J’s on the Bay.

EYE ON CSI ALUMNI NEWS PAGE 19

Alfred Thompson ‘90: Building Better Lives Dean at the time, who let him take course overloads to get his degree more quickly and more economically. Although he also worked a full-time job, he maintained a 3.7+ GPA. After he graduated from CSI, Alfred then went to Baruch College for his MBA and worked to eventually get his CPA license in 1992.

Alfred Thompson ’90 has spent the time since he graduated with a BS in Accounting with honors from CSI pursuing his passion to help others. He is currently the Principal of New Start Development, LLC, a company that manages real estate projects from identification of the site to management of the completed properties.

There is a difference to New Start, however, an additional focus on providing affordable housing to those in need.

Looking back on his days at CSI, Alfred fondly remembers Mirella Affron, who was a

After several positions, he landed a Comptroller position with a non-profit organization— the Osborne Association. Among the many initiatives was a program for ex-offenders. In addition to accounting and human resources responsibilities, Alfred also managed construction sites in the Bronx. His first project as an independent developer was an abandoned school in Red Hook that he developed into affordable housing in partnership with financing from the Bank of NY Mellon, FNMA, and the State of New York. The goal was to provide housing to those in need, so he worked with the New York City

Human Resources Administration to set aside one-third of the units for families with one member diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Today, Alfred remains passionate about providing housing opportunities to help people improve their lives and benefit society as a whole.

Another societal problem that Alfred has been working to address is economic insecurity.

In 1991, he co-founded Food First, Inc., an organization in Brooklyn established to dispel the myth of “scarcity” in food, housing, clothing, and economic independence.

“Actually, the name is derived from a book of the same name

by Frances Moore,” Alfred explained. “[In the book] everybody believes that the reason why there is food scarcity is just that there is not enough for everyone. The reality is how it’s distributed.

Most food goes to waste and that’s really why there’s food insecurity. So, I simply took that as a concept that applied

to housing and services and said that it’s not about inadequate supply, it’s about how it’s distributed and that’s how we came up with the name Food First.”

Beyond his humanitarian efforts to ensure that those in need have adequate food and shelter, Alfred has also been a fervent supporter of the College of Staten Island. He began his academic career in Alabama, but it wasn’t a good fit for him, so he eventually relocated on Staten Island and applied for admission to CSI. “CSI has a special place in my heart without any doubt,” Alfred stated. “When I graduated, not only did the education I got there allow me to qualify as a CPA very quickly, I had the support of very excellent professors who gave me the academic background I needed.”

His generous support of the College included funding for a scholarship to support students majoring in Business.

C E L E B R AT E O U R I S L A N D ’ S C U I S I N E

Join the CSI Alumni Association and popular Staten Island restaurants as we partner for a scholarship fundraiser to benefit our students

Sunday, April 26, 2020 2:00pm – 4:00pm Sports & Recreation Center 2800 Victory Blvd.

Staten Island, NY $40 per person | $50 at the door Ticket is 100% tax deductible.

For more information: 718.982.2365 alumni@csi.cuny.edu

RSVP to the 11th Annual CSI Savor the Flavors www.csisavortheflavors.com

Photo credit: Willie Chu

Alumna Marguerite Maria Rivas Named as Staten Island’s First Poet Laureate

As a single parent, Rivas worked, sometimes three jobs, to support her children and herself before graduating from Drew University with a Doctor of Arts and Letters degree (DLit) in English in 2001. She earned Drew University’s dissertation award for her work on the American long poem and for excellence in and commitment to literature. While working and studying, Rivas wrote poetry, often at night while her children slept.

Alumni Association Elections The CSI Alumni Association held its elections in June 2019. The current membership is as follows: President Crystal Deosaran ’04 Vice President Krystian Gargasz ’06 Treasurer Nicole Liebman ’15 Asst. Treasurer Jacqueline Armani ’06 Secretary Michael Massa ’14 Brenda Bell ’71 Dr. Alan I. Benimoff ’67 Francesco Cirillo ’12, ’13 Marietta DeLuca ’74 ’85 Allan Feldman ’18 Paulina Matlok ’17 Jennifer Miller ’07 Ronald J. Oliva ’11, ’19 Jennifer Rodriguez ’06, ’12 Jennifer Sammartino Mallen ’95 Brian Spicciatie ’99 Rachel Torres ’16

at the College of Staten Island as an adjunct professor while pursuing her doctoral studies at Drew. She is currently an Associate Professor of English at Borough of Manhattan Community College where she teaches writing and literature.

Borough President James Oddo has named CSI alumna Marguerite Maria Rivas as Staten Island’s first Poet Laureate.

The four-year, unpaid appointment is based on the recommendation of a selection committee, comprised of Borough literary and arts specialists. In her new position, Rivas will perform community outreach and advocate for poetry and literacy in the Borough.

Commenting on receiving this honor, Rivas said, “To have been appointed the first Poet Laureate of the Borough of Staten Island is an honor. Serving the people of Staten Island in this capacity is a responsibility that I approach with gravity and with joy. I am hoping to bring poetry to all communities of Staten Island and to collaborate with members of those communities in literacy initiatives and artistic endeavors.”

Rivas is a native Staten Islander who graduated from Tottenville High School.

She holds associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees from the College of Staten Island. After receiving an MA in English, she enrolled in a doctoral program at Drew University. She taught

Rivas’s poetry, both lyric and long-form, is largely based on the culture, history, and natural environment of Staten Island.

Her poetry has been published widely in journals, anthologies, and in a best-selling college textbook. She is also the author of two collections of poems. In her book Tell No One: Poems of Witness (Chimbarazu Press), Rivas writes poetry about Staten Island, including poems related to the Borough during and after the September 11th attacks. These poems express the shock and communal suffering felt by Staten Islanders. They also celebrate the coming together, the kinship, and the resiliency characteristic of the people of Staten Island.

Rivas has received numerous grants and awards for her poetry. She is the recipient of the Staten Island Arts Excellence in Literature Award, The Marg Chandler Memorial Award from A Room of Her Own Foundation, and The Irene C. Fromer Award from Snug Harbor Cultural Center.

In addition to teaching, researching, and giving poetry readings, Rivas is busy at work on her next book, a poetry collection, Rapid Transit. She is also a writer/scholar-in-residence at the New York Public Library’s Wertheim Study.

EYE ON CSI SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS PAGE 21

SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS

Making It Ours: CSI Accepted To NCAA Division II A little more than five months after its application to join the NCAA Division II ranks, the College of Staten Island received its formal invitation last July, as it has been accepted for entry by the NCAA Division II Membership Committee. The landmark moment in CSI Athletics’ history will see the program begin its journey as a provisional NCAA Division II member immediately, becoming a member of the East Coast Conference.

for our student-athletes, coaches, and staff,” said Gomes. “With the transition to NCAA Division II, we will continue to raise the bar for all members of the CSI Dolphins community well into the future.”

are the out-of-state constituents. CSI will join fellow CUNY member, Queens College, as the only NCAA Division II institutions in the five New York City boroughs, and the only public NCAA Division II institutions in New York State.

Participation in the ECC and NCAA Division II will bolster the range of regional competition and the NCAA Division II’s championship participation ratio of 1:8.3 is the best among all NCAA Divisions, giving future Dolphins teams improved access to postseason play.

With the decision of acceptance coming near the beginning of the 2019-2020 academic school year, the Dolphins will honor their already-made 2019-2020 competitive schedules, which includes a full regular-season schedule against the current City University of New York “I applaud the decision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association to elevate our Athletic Conference. The school will also “On behalf of the East Coast Conference championship Dolphins to Division II status,” continue to follow all Division III playing and its member institutions, we are truly and practice season rules until the close of said College of Staten Island President Dr. excited with the news of the College of each individual athletic sport’s season.

William J. Fritz. “For many years, the Staten Island’s acceptance into the Although it is expected that most CSI College’s academic programs, faculty, and teams will play a variety of NCAA Division Division II membership process and as a students have been garnering national provisional member of the ECC,” said II teams this season, the Dolphins will accolades for excellence, and I am pleased ECC Commissioner, Dr. Robert Dranoff. that our exceptional athletics teams are now formally take on a complete Division II also receiving much-deserved recognition.” schedule in 2020-2021, their official entry “This is a program with a strong tradition in intercollegiate athletics and academics and into the ECC’s block schedule.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our studenta big part of the Staten Island community.

“The opportunity to align with the East athletes, coaches, and staff,” said Director The work done by President William Fritz of Athletics Charles Gomes. “The privilege Coast Conference as a result of our and Director of Athletics Charles Gomes application to NCAA Division II will allow to move into the NCAA Division II and the entire staff in putting together their us to enhance our focus on the studentmembership process was created through DII application is a great indication of the athlete experience,” said Gomes. “We were many years of establishing a culture that commitment they have made to this impressed with the quality of competition prioritizes the student-athlete experience, program and their readiness for this next and attention that would be provided in the the value of teamwork, and a commitment step. We believe they will make an excellent ECC and are looking forward to to excellence in the classroom, on the playing member of the East Coast Conference.” matriculating into play as a member of the field and in the Staten Island community.”

Many coaches at CSI are excited about the conference moving forward.”

Acceptance to NCAA Division II comes opportunities that the ECC and Division II The East Coast Conference features nine with a built-in three-year provisional has to offer. Men’s Basketball head coach other schools, comprised of public and window, whereby the College will meet T.J. Tibbs is embracing the move. “I am private institutions. Currently, seven thresholds for success after each academic extremely excited, as both a coach and an members are based in New York (Daemen year. In Year One of the provisional period, alumnus, with our move to Division II. We College, Mercy College, Molloy College, CSI will implement its model for awarding are looking forward to the new challenges NY Institute of Technology, Queens College, athletic-related aid in time for the 2020that our program needs to face. Our staff Roberts-Wesleyan College, and St. Thomas 2021 academic year. The institution will looks forward to joining a terrific Aquinas), while University of Bridgeport also abide by all Division II compliance conference and working to identify (Connecticut) and the University of the measures regarding academic eligibility. student-athletes who can be ambassadors District of Columbia (Washington, DC) for our community moving forward.”

“We have always maintained high expectations

SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS

Hall of Fame The College celebrated its fourth installment of the prestigious CSI Athletics Hall of Fame this past year in a rousing ceremony held at the Nicotra Ballroom on Staten Island. Honorees included (l-r): Michael Stewart (Men’s Basketball, 2001-2005), Michell DeBella (Softball, 1998-2001), Nedgy Nazon (19972000, ’12), Demi-Jean Martorano (Women’s Soccer, 2010-2013), April Owen (Women’s Basketball, 1991-1994), Bill Cali (Baseball Coach, 1994-2008), Frank Sansonetti (Baseball, 1997-2000). Videos celebrating their legacy were featured and are available on the CSI Athletic Website at www.csidolphins.com/hof.

CSI Athletics Awards Banquet The CSI Athletics program celebrated its Annual Awards Banquet at the Nicotra Ballroom on Staten Island in mid-May, doling out more than 60 awards to deserving studentathletes and staff. It was a good night for soccer stars as the marquee award winners were (l-r) Female Athlete of the Year Samantha LaValle of the CUNYAC Champion Women’s Soccer unit and Male Athlete of the Year honors were awarded to Men’s Soccer junior Philip Lefkowitz, who led the nation in assists per game. Other highlighted award winners were Bill Cali/John Scrivani Sportsmanship Player of the Year honors to Women’s Volleyball and Track and Field star Cassidy Iannariello, who doubles as Student-Athlete Advisory Committee President, and Scholar-Athlete of the Year Nicole Imbesi from the Women’s Basketball team, an award presented to her by Vice President for Student and Enrollment Services, Jennifer Borrero.

EYE ON CSI SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS PAGE 23

Golf Outing The CSI Athletics program celebrated another great installment of the Annual Golf Outing held at the Richmond County Country Club on Staten Island on a picture-perfect day in late-May. The event, through attendees, sponsorships, and raffle prizes generates funds for CSI Athletics operations each year, and was another rousing success, generating nearly $20,000 in funds that help support the Athletics program.

Malcolm Rasheed

CSI Golf Outing supporters with Danny the Dolphin

Andrew Gangemi

New Hires

Stella Porto Retirement After 17 years of an incredible softball coaching career, CSI alumna Stella Porto retired from the position this past May. CSI’s most successful softball coach in history, Porto took over the program in 2003, and collected an unprecedented 12 CUNYAC Championships in 17 years, amassing a career record of 399-254-2. Of those wins, 46 have come in the CUNYAC Postseason Tournament, where her teams have boasted a 46-10 mark in her career and have won 21 games in a row. CSI has also claimed five victories under her watch in NCAA Regional play. She leaves the program as a seven-time CUNYAC Coach of the Year. Prior to coming to coach at CSI, Porto was a three-year standout with the softball program from 1988-90 after transferring NCAA Division I Long Island University.

Following up their recent move to NCAA Division II, CSI Athletics announced the hiring of two new staffers to complement their budding programs. Malcolm Rasheed, a former D2 standout and Division I assistant, has played on the ATP pro tennis tour for almost a decade and will take over tennis coaching duties beginning this fall. Andrew Gangemi will take over the program’s Cross-Country and Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field programs. Gangemi ran for Division II St. Thomas Aquinas College and served as an assistant their for nine years before spending the last two as a head coach with the College of Mount Saint Vincent.

FOUNDATION NOTES

CSI Enrollment Digital Advertising Campaign

Ninth Annual Celestial Ball Celebrates the Opportunity to Ascend

The CSI Foundation, Inc. provided $100K in funding in 2018 to the Division of Student Affairs for digital advertising initiatives to recruit and enroll undergraduate and graduate students over a number of platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, and a variety of formats, such as carousel, timeline, and video, as well as promoted posts.

The CSI ’18 Enrollment Digital Advertising Campaign served as an image campaign for the College by promoting our brand and the quality/diversity of our programs, thereby strengthening our regional footprint.

Target groups included: • Undergraduate prospects living in targeted New Jersey counties • CSI St. George prospects in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Staten Island • Graduate students for five specific programs living in New York/New Jersey • International students currently studying in the United States (boarding schools and community colleges) Initial ads focused on key messaging and value proposition, followed up with direct application messaging. For the Graduate campaign, social media ads were aimed at broad audiences promoting specific programs with additional ads promoting potential careers associated with these degrees. Traffic generated for each campaign was driven to specific/related CSI Webpages.

An additional campaign for CSI St. George encouraged people to visit the St. George location to meet faculty, tour the facility, and get more information.

The campaign was a success even though it missed the peak period for recruitment.

Commitment numbers were up by 131 students. Social media ad engagement with current students was an unexpected outcome that positively impacted school spirit and contributed to the Destination Campus campaign.

Seated: Cheryl Adolph, William Myhre, Caroline Diamond Harrison, Oswaldo Peña, Celestial Ball Chair Marilyn Caselli. Standing: CSI Foundation Vice President Joseph Franzese ’88, Joseph Conte, Brian Laline, William J. Fritz, former Interim CUNY Chancellor Vita Carulli Rabinowitz, Gary Reichard

College President William J. Fritz, after a few initial remarks, introduced a very special guest, CUNY Interim Chancellor Vita Carulli Rabinowitz, a native Staten Islander.

After discussing her history on the Island, the Chancellor provided a long and impressive list of the College’s accomplishments and assets, concluding that “A CUNY Chancellor doesn’t have to be State Island born to understand the The College of Staten Island received an importance of this College to The City outpouring of support from the College and University. No other CUNY college has the Staten Island communities at the Ninth potential to transform an entire borough as Annual CSI Foundation Celestial Ball on this College has.”

December 1 at the Richmond County Country Club.

After he returned to the lectern, Dr. Fritz took the opportunity to underscore the Despite the rainy and cold weather outside, College’s Strategic Plan, titled Opportunity attendees basked in the warm glow of the to Ascend, as it has been applied in its first beautiful venue to socialize; enjoy raffles, a year, providing examples from each of the silent auction, and the Casale Jewelers Casino document’s six Strategic Priorities: Student Table; dine on delicious food; and listen to the Success, Global Engagement, Borough event program, which featured a combination Stewardship, Destination Campus, of speeches and video presentations.

EYE ON CSI FOUNDATION NOTES PAGE 25

Scholarship-Driven Education, and Resource Provider System, one of the evening’s honorees, for a scholarship that is helping to Management. In discussing “Student ensure that she remains in her graduate Success,” the President noted that “Because program. In addition, she mentioned the of our commitment to “Student Success” College’s contributions to her academic goals. our students go to the best med schools, law “I have found a program here where the schools, serve in the most prestigious notfaculty are always there for me and my fellow for- profits, and get the best jobs on Wall students. Their accessibility, expertise, and Street and elsewhere. In the past several the caring culture they create, makes it feel like years, we have ranked in the top 20 in the more than a program – it feels like a family entire nation for taking students from the that wants you to be the best you can be.” lowest two quintiles of wealth and moving them to the upper levels. Our alumni make The next portion of the program featured in the top 15% of salaries as the graduates the presentation of President’s Medals by Dr. from any institution in the country!”

Fritz and Vice President for Economic Development, Continuing Studies, and Following Dr. Fritz was student-scholar Government Relations Kenichi Iwama to Elissa Tavarez, who is currently enrolled at the evening’s honorees: College event CSI in the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental volunteer Oswaldo Peña, former Provost Health Counseling program. In a moving and Senior Vice President for Academic speech, Tavarez told the audience how she Affairs Gary Reichard, Staten Island was able to surmount debilitating anxiety Advance/SI Live (represented by Caroline issues to succeed in her academic career.

Diamond Harrison and Brian Laline), and She thanked the Staten Island Performing

the Staten Island Performing Provider System (represented by Joseph Conte and William Myhre). Prior the awarding of the medals, the attendees viewed pre-recorded statements from each of the honorees. Mr. Laline, after he received his medal, shared with the audience a portion of a 1971 article from then reporter Jane Kurtin titled “Willowbrook: Inside the Cages,” which exposed the brutal and inhumane conditions at the Willowbrook State School. Ms. Kurtin was in attendance at the Ball and was recognized.

After Dr. Fritz’s concluding comments and dinner, guests at the Ball listened and danced to the music of Crossing Midnight.

This year’s Ball Committee Chair was Marilyn Caselli, Senior Vice President for Customer Operations, Consolidated Edison, Inc., and a member of the CSI Foundation Board of Directors.

The President’s Medal recepients from left to right: former Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Gary Reichard, Oswaldo Peña, Brian Laline, Caroline Diamond Harrison, Joseph Conte, William Myhre

Dr. Fritz poses with CSI students.

CSI Welcomes Inaugural Adopt a Bench Donors at Dedication Ceremony In early June, the College of Staten Island hosted a heartwarming Adopt a Bench dedication event to celebrate the generosity and devotion of its inaugural Adopt a Bench campaign donors. The festivities included the unveiling of four Solar Power-Doks and ten new benches with personalized plaques in memory of loved ones, or showcasing favorite quotations. The event was held on behalf of the College of Staten Island Foundation, which is leading the campaign, as well as College President Dr. William J. Fritz.

At the event, Dr. Fritz acknowledged that the Adopt a Bench campaign is a powerful way for community leaders to demonstrate their support for the beautification of the

College’s 204-acre campus and CSI’s greatest needs. He also announced that benches are available for sponsorship along The Willowbrook Mile, which honors the history and legacy of the former Willowbrook State School. In addition, Jay Chazanoff, ‘65, Chair of the Adopt a Bench committee, underscored his commitment to the campaign and the College of Staten Island. Stressing the urgent need for campus resources, Mr. Chazanoff called upon other people who are connected to the College to step up to support the campaign.

A total of ten benches was unveiled at the dedication. It is hoped that these benches will serve as a catalyst for further engagement

The CSI Alumni Association unveils its Solar Power-Dok donation.

Caselli family Solar Power-Dok umbrella awning

with community members, businesses, and organizations in an effort to expand the campaign’s mission. Also unveiled outside the Campus Center were four Solar PowerDoks, state-of-the-art solar-powered charging stations and WiFi hotspots that complement the CSI campus, providing a place for students and other members of the campus community to recharge electronic devices while they meet, study, or relax.

For more information on the Adopt a Bench Campaign, contact Jennifer Lynch in the Division of Institutional Advancement at 718.982.2293.

Katia Gordon, Lucille Chazanoff, Dr. Bonnie Fritz, and Danny the Dolphin enjoy the dedication.

Danny the Dolphin plugs into a Solar Power-Dok.

EYE ON CSI FOUNDATION NOTES PAGE 27

COLLEGE OF STATEN ISLAND FOUNDATION

Sowing the Seeds for Student Success

12.02.19 Piyush Sukhadia, Class of 85’ and family

CELESTIAL BALL SAVE THE DATE Join us as we proudly honor June M. Como, EdD, RN Anthony Como

Oswaldo Peña and former Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Gary Reichard dedicate their bench to honor Oswaldo’s mother.

National Grid as represented by Carol Decina NY Community and Customer Management Frank Lombardo NY Business Planning and Performance Saturday | December 7, 2019 | 6:30pm Richmond County Country Club One the Oval, Staten Island, New York 10304

Con Edison representatives Katia Gordon and Doug Ports participate in the Con Edison Solar Power-Dok dedication.

RISING STARS

KWAN HO ‘20 Major: Psychology with a triple minor in Business, Chinese, and East Asian Studies as a pre-Law student A Verrazzano School student, she is active in Student Government, as well as a member of Hillel, Women’s Track, NYPIRG, CUNY Service Corps, and a board member of the CSI Association.

A favorite aspect of CSI: I feel that CSI is a place of opportunities where everyone has a fair game and if you are determined, you can learn so much from this campus.

Future plans: She plans to attend law school in New York.

NATALIA SANDOR ‘20 Major: Business Management with an English Writing minor A Macaulay Honors College student, an active participant and intern for Women in Technology and Entrepreneurship in New York, Captain of the Women’s Soccer team, and she runs her own successful ice cream sandwich business, Sand Bars Handcrafted.

A favorite aspect of CSI: I think that CSI has given me amazing friends, bosses, and lifetime connections. It has been a place of exploration and experimentation that has also been overly supportive of my creativity and crazy ideas.

Future plans: She plans “to continue to follow my gut and say yes to the opportunities that continue to present themselves to me.”

DOHA SHEHABELDIN ‘20 Major: Education, Art minor A SEEK and Dean’s List student, she also earned her EMT certification, and was nominated for and received the Perseverance Award at the 2019 SEEK Summit Awards.

A favorite aspect of CSI: Coming in as a freshman over four years ago…I am a different person. I'm going to graduate a little late, but I don't mind because I learned to push myself.

Future plans: She plans to teach, possibly in Egypt, and open up a school there.

MITCHELL WEITZMAN ‘20 Major: Math Education (Grades 7-12) A Teacher Education Honors Academy (TEHA) and Dean’s List student, he was also an Alfred Harcourt scholar, and has been a Robert Noyce Scholar for the past three semesters.

A favorite aspect of CSI: CSI is a place where the college experience is what I wanted.

TEHA has made me feel like I belong at CSI and has given me the confidence that I was looking for to succeed in my career.

Future plans: He plans to work for the Dept. of Ed. and will enroll to get his Master’s in Math Education with a minor in Special Ed.

CSI ALUMNI ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS 4 Library privileges: Present your alumni photo ID at the CSI Library for access and borrowing privileges.

4 Use of the CSI Computer Center: Contact Information Technology, 718.982.3695.

4 Parking Pass: Alumni can park in lot 6 only up to three times throughout a semester and must display a completed visitor’s pass obtained from the security guard at the entrance of the campus.

Any alumni parking on campus more than three times throughout a semester are required to purchase a CSI parking decal. Parking permits and any additional information may be obtained directly from the Office of Parking and DolphinCard Services, 718.982.2294.

4 The Career Center offers assistance with résumés through Symplicity – a Web-based career management program designed to deliver career-related services to current students and alumni. Call 718.982.2300 for more information.

4 10% tuition discount for select courses offered by the Office of Continuing Education and Professional Development. For course information and to register, call 718.982.2182.

4 Barnes & Noble CSI College Bookstore 10% alumni discount: Present alumni photo ID for applicable items, excluding textbooks.

4 CSI Sports and Recreation Center alumni membership: Present your alumni photo ID for discount. Contact the membership desk, 718.982.3160.

4 CSI Center for the Arts Ticket Discount: Receive $2 alumni discount off CFA performances (limit two per ID per performance). For more information about upcoming shows, call the box office at 718.982.ARTS (2787).

4 Auto and Homeowner Insurance Program Liberty Mutual Savings Plus/American Insurance Administrators: Call 800.524.9400, follow the prompts, and indicate that you are an alumnus/alumna of the College of Staten Island or visit www.libertymutual.com/lm/csi.

4 Group Term Life Insurance and Health Insurance NEA Trust/American Insurance Administrators: Call 800.922.1245 and indicate that you are an alumnus/alumna of the College of Staten Island. For a complete listing of programs and availability in your state, www.alumniinsuranceprogram.com/csi.* 4 New Insurance Programs: Alumni Pet Health, Alumni ID Recovery, Alumni Long-Term Care, Alumni Travel. New offers and expanded benefits are continually added, so check out the latest benefits. Visit us at www.csi.cuny.edu/alumni. * Note: Short-term health insurance coverage is not available for residents of NY, NJ, MA, and VT. Major Medical insurance is not available in NY, NJ, RI, WA, and AZ.

Miriam Perez-Lai, ’75 LOOKING BACK

“The best part of my job is that I am able to follow the students from when they come in as a freshmen”

MIRIAM PEREZ-LAI

The College of Staten Island is accelerating its efforts to protect the environment and develop sustainable and responsible patterns of development in accordance with CUNY’s University Sustainability Council, which is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from all campus buildings by 30 percent over the next decade. If you would prefer to receive an electronic version of this publication or future editions via email instead of a hard copy, please contact the Alumni Relations Office at alumni@csi.cuny.edu.

Contact Eye on CSI: COLLEGE OF STATEN ISLAND Alumni Relations Office 2800 Victory Boulevard Building 1A, Room 210 Staten Island, NY 10314 Telephone: 718.982.2290 Email: alumni@csi.cuny.edu

Miriam Perez-Lai, a counselor in the Percy “favorite part of the campus was meeting students from all five boroughs, with a Ellis Sutton SEEK Program, has seen variety of nationalities and languages many of the facets of CSI’s history, having spoken.” She adds that Professor Charles attended classes at both of CSI’s Thomas was her favorite instructor, who predecessor institutions, Staten Island “taught us culture, dance, and art from a Community College and Richmond variety of African, Brazilian, Cuban, and College, eventually receiving a BA in Latino cultures.”

Sociology/Psychology from the latter institution.

Another source of inspiration for Miriam is Dr. Roberta Vogel, the former SEEK Although much has changed for Miriam Director, who, she says, “was the best since that time, there has been one supervisor, who had the utmost respect for constant—the desire to help others. counselors and their input to the program.

Looking back on those early days, she Dr. Vogel is a gentle soul who left a legacy recalls, “My major was Nursing at that within the SEEK Program and with the time, then I switched over to Social Work. I College community.” always knew I wanted to be a social worker Today at CSI, Miriam continues to be a or related to patient rights and to advocate champion for diversity, as well as those in for those who did not have a voice.” need. “Our students have many Thinking about her academic career, components to them,” she explains. “They Miriam underscores her commitment to face many hardships such as eviction, those principles and the people who would domestic violence, homelessness, hunger, benefit from them. She notes that the best and the sudden death of a family member. part of her CSI experience was that it Due to my experience with community allowed her to receive her BS, and later a services and outreach, I am able to assist in Master’s degree (in Social Work from many ways that prevent the students from Fordham University in 1981), giving her dropping out of college. the chance “to return to CSI and to give “The best part of my job,” Miriam back to the community where it all began continues, “is that I am able to follow the for me.” She also remembers being a part students from when they come in as a of clubs that were related to her major, freshmen; I see their personal and eventually leading to a trip to Albany to academic struggles; however, it all falls into rally for student rights and lower tuition. place at graduation. This is an Miriam also loves the diversity that accomplishment for the students and for flourishes at CUNY, stating that her me as well.”

2800 Victory Boulevard Staten Island, NY 10314

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Staten Island, NY Permit No. 77

UPCOMING EVENTS MOVIE UNDER THE STARS: ALADDIN

October 10, 2019 6:00pm Racetrack Lawn

FRIENDS OF CSI LITERARY BRUNCH

October 27, 2019, Noon Green Dolphin Lounge

CELESTIAL BALL

December 7, 2019, 6:30pm Richmond County Country Club

CONVOCATION

December 2019 Williamson Theatre

SAVOR THE FLAVORS

April 26, 2020, 2:00pm Sports and Recreation Center

COMMENCEMENT CLASS REUNIONS

May 28, 2020 Honoring alumni class years ending in 0s and 5s (1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015) If you would like to receive email announcements of upcoming events, please send your email to alumni@csi.cuny.edu.

The Friends of the College of Staten Island present their annual

Literary Brunch Sunday, October 27, 2019 Noon – 3:00pm College of Staten Island 2800 Victory Blvd.

Campus Center (Building 1C) Green Dolphin Lounge

Featuring Rev. Dr. Kathleen M. Cumiskey Professor of Psychology and lead author of Haunting Hands Mobile Media Practices and Loss Proceeds to benefit scholarships.

For information on upcoming performances at the CSI Center for the Arts, go to www.cfashows.com or call 718.982.ARTS. Receive a $2 alumni discount off performances. Limit two discounts per performance.

Keep up with the latest CSI Athletics news at www.csidolphins.com.

Present your Alumni Photo ID for a membership discount at the CSI Sports and Recreation Center. Call 718.982.3161 for more information.